Kaagapujandar

Sri Kaagapujandar or Kakabhushundi (Tamil: காகபுஜண்டர்) is considered to be an eminent siddha in Siddhar tradition, a saint who has reached a particularly high degree of physical and spiritual perfection. According to legends he lived around the 7th century CE.^[1] The jeeva samadhi of Sri Kaagapujandar is located at the Sornapureeshwar Temple in Thenponparapi village, near Chinna salem, Villupuram District. His birth star is Ayilyam.^[2] Sri Kaagapujandar was mentioned by Karuvoorar^[3] and author K.S.Pillai^[4] as one of the 18 siddhars (பதினென் சித்தர்கள்).^[5]

Sri Kaagapujandar
Consecrated at Kaga Ashram, Thiruvannamalai, India

He is also called Kaagapusundi, Kaagapusundar,^[6] and Pujankar.^[2]

A verse from His book Gnanam 80

தானென்ற பிரமத்தை யடுத்திடாமல்

தரணியில் தெய்வமடா அனந்த மென்றும்[7]

- 'Forgetting to embrace the self-god within, we search this wide world for various divine solutions '

Legends about Kaagapujandar

Sri Kaagapujandar,^[2] according to legend, has seen many destructions of the universe(pralaya) and recreation of new one^[6][8][9] as a crow, hence the name Kaga. Kagam in Tamil means crow. Sri Kaagapujandar is the master in the art of Immortality.^[2] He is the one who obtains diksha (initiation) from Almighty Lord Shiva^[2] in every era. Sri Kaagapujandar gave upadhesa (instruction) to Sri Vashistar, guru of Sri Rama as mentioned in Yoga Vasistha.^[2]

Siddhar Sri Roma rishi is said to be son of Sri Kaagapujandar.^[2][10]

He was a great devotee of Lord Shree Rama and was granted the boon to see his lilas.

Books

Sri Kaagapujandar wrote many books in Tamil, written on palm leaves; most have been lost. Those remaining were transferred onto paper with the help of siddhas and palm readers. The book Perunool kaviyam 1000 (Tamil:பெருநூல் காவியம் 1000)^[11][12][13] has an account of most of the siddhas. Below listed the songs where the particular siddhas are mentioned.

• Agasthiyar - Song 141
• Bogar, Karuvoorar, Dhanvantari - Song 143
• Pulasthyar, Sattaimuni, Macchamuni, Korakkar, Rama Devar - Song 155
• Thirumoolar - Song 279
• Vashishtar, Krishnakonaar, Vyaasar - Song 440
• Vishwamithrar, Konkanar - Song 782
• Thiruvalluvar, Kasinathar, Dhadheechi nathar, Koormamuni, Athri - Song 783
• Idaikadar, Kalai kotaan - Song 784

Temples

Kaagapujandar
Kaagapujandar on temple gopuram as one of 18 Siddhars

• Swarnapureeshwarar Temple, Chinna Salem, Tamil Nadu^[14]
• Sri Swarna Kala Bhairavar Temple, Aati Sakthi Peetam (Previously known as Kaga Ashram), Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu^[15]
• Siddharghal Temple, Madambakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu^[16]
• Sri Shakti Arutkoodam, Tambaram, Chennai, Tamil Nadu^[17]

See also

• Rishi
• Bhusunda